Men and women in the Bible
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4. What did Simon, the former sorcerer of Samaria, ask
Peter and John? Did he ask them to give him the Holy Spirit, as some say? |
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No, he did
not ask them to give him the Holy Spirit but he asked them to give him the
power to lay hands on people so that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For
this is what Luke says in his second book to Theophilus: “And when Simon saw
that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given,
he offered them money, saying: Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I
lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:18-19 – NKJV). |